Dingli Swallows kept their slim hopes of qualifying alive when they were held to a 1-1 by St Andrew’s. Dingli were heading for victory, but the Saints snatched a dramatic equalizer on 90 minutes for a deserved draw.

However the result eliminates St Andrew’s from the competition, whilst Dingli can still make it if they beat Pieta Hotspur in their final match.

St Andrew’s had a very good chance after barely two minutes play when Valencia passed towards the unmarked Patrick Briscoe White who shot straight on the onrushing goalkeeper.

On 13 minutes Dingli had their first attempt when a Chris Azzopardi cross shot passed inches wide from the far post. Sixty seconds later Chris Ciappara headed incredibly over the bar an inviting cross by Kevin Borg.

On 38 minutes Dingli’s Chirino dribbled past a defender but his effort was blocked by Ibrahim. Six minutes later a Michael Valencia scorcher was well saved by Farrugia, and just before the end of the half Kurt Galea missed a sitter when he blasted over the bar from five metres.

On the resumption a Patrick Briscoe White shot on the turn went slightly over the bar, and on 51 minutes Dingli forged ahead when Chris Azzopardi’s pass was miskicked by Hartvig and Jereilly Chirino slotted the ball home from an acute angle.

Dingli tried to control their opponents and administer their slender lead, as St Andrew’s pushed everything forward. The Saints dominance was a sterile one however and they never really worried Dingli goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia.

But on 90 minutes St Andrew’s obtained the equalizer when from a Valencia freekick, Patrick Briscoe White nodded towards the completely unmarked William Camilleri who easily headed the ball home.

St.Andrew’s D. Ibrahim, J. Bugeja, M. Borg, R. Hartvig, N. Chetcuti (K. Coleiro), P. Briscoe White, J. Briscoe White, M. Valencia, K. Galea (W. Camilleri), N. Vella Petroni (E. Grima), K. Akanua.

Dingli S J. Farrugia, S. Tellus, R. Vella, C. Ciappara (K. Bonavia), K. Formosa, E. Farrugia, K. Borg, R. Briffa, C. Azzopardi, J. Chirino.

Referee Mario Apap

Pieta H 3

St Georges 1

Pieta Hotspur staged a remarkable comeback in the second half yesterday to beat St Georges and move to second place in the group, and now need only a draw in their last match against Dingli to qualify for the semi finals.

After a balanced first half, in which the Saints took an early lead, Pieta’s youngsters gave a five star performance in the second half to knock the Saints from the running. Zach Muscat was a constant menace scoring a brace, but all the Pieta players played some really good stuff in the second part of the match.

Pieta started like a house on fire and after only three minutes Zach Muscat fired a great shot that was brilliantly saved by Ryan Cilia. On the other end the Saints forged ahead on six minutes when Inguanez passed towards Mark Barbara who dribbled past Gary Busuttil before beating Montfort with a grounder.

Three minutes later the Pieta goalkeeper Montfort kept his opponents at bay with a brilliant save off a Glenn Bonello dipper. Pieta tried to get back on level terms and had some opportunities but the Saints’ rearguard stood the pressure. St Georges were always dangerous in their breaks and had some neat moves with Dylan Zarb and Gary Inguanez in the thick of the action.

Pieta were back on level terms shortly after the restart when Dominic Mifsud did all the spade work before passing towards Zach Muscat who could not miss such an easy chance.

Pieta were now all over their opponents and Zach Muscat missed an easy header after Jurgen Pisani had dribbled past goalkeeper Cilia. But Zach Muscat did not miss on 57 minutes when he headed home a good cross from the right by Cleaven Cassar.

The Saints were now completely dominated as Pieta’s swift breaks ripped the St Georges defence apart. Goalkeeper Cilia charged out of position to block Jurgen Pisani, but could only foul Zach Muscat some seconds later for a blatant penalty, which Sheldon Grech converted in style.

Pieta H M. Montfort, C. Spiteri (L. Mallia), R. Mifsud, G. Busuttil, S. Grech, C. Cassar, J. Pisani (T. Agius), D. Mifsud, I. Grech (K. Fedele), D. Camilleri, Z. Muscat.

St. George’s R. Cilia, C. Grech, T. Farrugia (L. Stivala), N. Caruana, E. Sevasta, B. Fenech, A. Bonello (G. Previ), D. Zarb, G. Inguanez, G. Bonello, M. Barbara (J. Dalli).

Referee Esther Azzopardi